A man has been charged with allegedly making more than 4,500 indecent images and videos of children.

Self-employed John Powell, 58, from Rodmell, East Sussex, is in custody accused of making and possessing indecent images and videos, many of which are believed to be level four and five, the more serious end of the scale, Sussex Police said.

Powell faces 11 charges which include one of taking of an indecent image of a child, four of making indecent images and videos at levels four and five, five charges relate to allegedly making indecent images and videos, and one charge alleges possession of 363 prohibited images.

One of the children involved has been identified and safeguarding arrangements have been put in place, a police spokesman said.

None of the charges relate to allegations of contact offending and all the other alleged indecent images and videos are internet-based, he added.

Powell will appear at Lewes Crown Court on November 14, police said.

The charges, authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, follow an intelligence-led investigation by the Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team (Polit) of Sussex Police.

The spokesman said: "The investigation continues and anyone who has any concerns and wishes to speak to police can make contact, in confidence, via 101, asking for Polit, or for the neighbourhood response sergeants at Lewes."

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